Fishing the Road to Mighty

As the second driest state in the country, Utah sure has a lot of fishing opportunities. Many anglers overlook Southern Utah as a fishing destination inappropriately assuming red rock country and fish don’t get along. Big mistake. Reservoirs created for water storage make great fisheries and the streams coming out dams provide excellent tailwater fishing.

From colorful varieties of trout in unexpected high mountain lakes to state record bass in low country reservoirs, visitors with a penchant for fishing can wet their lines in a variety of scenic locations.

Fishing on your way, or in between visits, to Utah’s national parks is easy. Make a quick stop for an hour of casting or spend a couple of days at a Utah State Park campground or a resort near the lake.

You don’t need to be an expert or have expensive gear to enjoy fishing on the Road to the Mighty Five. But you do need a fishing license. Visit the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources website for information about purchasing a license.

Fishing with bait is allowed at most Utah fisheries, but there are some special regulations to note in certain locations; make sure to check for special regulations on waters you plan to fish during a trip.

Native Utahn Brett Prettyman grew up exploring the natural wonders of the state and shared them public as an outdoor writer and columnist with the state’s largest newspaper, The Salt Lake Tribune, for 25 years. Brett Prettyman is the author of "Fishing Utah," "Best Easy Day Hikes Capitol Reef Reef National Parks" and is the Intermountain Communications Director for Trout Unlimited. When not covering stories, and sometimes while doing it, he can be found discovering new Utah adventures with family and friends. He also has his own Utah Bucket List. @BrettPrettyman on Twitter

Day 1
130 Miles

MINERSVILLE TO KOLOB

Minersville Reservoir

Southwestern Desert Bass Fishing

Kolob Reservoir — Fishing

If you are looking for a full day adventure off the beaten path, but also the closest reliable fishery to a national park, Kolob Reservoir is your place. Most people access Kolob by driving through a seldom-visited portion of Zion National Park by taking the Kolob Reservoir Road 23 miles north out of the town of Virgin. Big cutthroat and rainbow trout are the catch. Camping in Zion National Park is available at the Lava Point Campground east of the reservoir. There are six primitive campgrounds with a first-come, first-serve policy. There is no fee to camp and no drinkable water available. The road to Kolob Reservoir is not plowed in the winter months. Vehicle access is generally from mid-April to December, but varies on seasonal weather conditions.

If something a little easier to reach is on the agenda, consider Minersville Reservoir. The productive reservoir is 15 miles west of Beaver and it grows large trout and bass. Shore fishing works well here. A campground at the reservoir is managed by Beaver County.

Quail Creek and Sand Hollow state parks are both set on reservoirs near Hurricane — on the way to Zion National Park — and easily accessible. Some of the largest bass in the state comes from these two reservoirs. Fishing from shore does work, but most anglers use a boat to move around and find the fish. Camping is available at both state parks, or reserve lodging at towns along S.R. 9 or in nearby St. George or Cedar City. Visit the Utah State Parks website for more information.

MINERSVILLE RESERVOIR

Minersville Reservoir is perfect for a day of recreational fishing or for anyone looking to catch “the big one.” Easily-accessible and full of trophy-sized trout it’s a great spot to cast a line and have a good time.

SOUTHWESTERN DESERT BASS FISHING

While southern Utah might not be widely known as a fishing mecca, adventure-minded visitors headed to the St. George area should consider throwing a fly rod or two into their gear. Ample bass fishing opportunities await in Sand Hollow and Quail Creek state parks — here’s how to enjoy them.

KOLOB RESERVOIR — FISHING

Blanketed by snow or cooking in the summer heat, Kolob Reservoir offers anglers a picturesque landscape and amazing trout fishing. Fishing in this remote destination is well-worth the journey.

Day 2
90 Miles

PANGUITCH LAKE AND THE MARKAGUNT PLATEAU

Asay Creek, Navajo Lake and Duck Creek

Panguitch Lake

East Fork of the Sevier River

Legend has it the local Paiute Tribe named Panguitch Lake, which roughly translates into “Big Fish”. While not all the trout caught at Panguitch live up to the namesake, chances are better here than at many other destinations the fish will be worthy of pictures. This is a popular destination for Utah residents, but people from Las Vegas and Southern California with summer cabins in the area around Panguitch Lake often outnumber people from the Beehive state. There are several commercial resorts located around Panguitch lake.

If Panguitch is crowded or the fishing is slow consider a trip to Navajo Lake, Duck Creek Pond or Aspen Mirror Lake just off of State Road 14 out of Cedar City. These lakes are not as large as Panguitch, but the fishing can be a little faster, although for typically smaller fish. Be prepared for a trophy though, particularly at Navajo.

Fly fishers visiting Bryce Canyon National Park should pack a rod and find time to sneak away to the East Fork of the Sevier River in Black Canyon. This 20-mile stretch of the East Fork is a designated Blue Ribbon fishery for brown trout, cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. The East Fork below Otter Creek Reservoir is used to serve irrigation needs downstream and the controlled flows can hamper fishing. If the water is high and off-color consider fishing the upper portion of the East Fork of the Sevier above Tropic Reservoir. Lodging and camping options are available inside Bryce Canyon National Park and outside the park at Ruby’s Inn or other area hotels.

ASAY CREEK, NAVAJO LAKE AND DUCK CREEK

Remote but beautiful, this high altitude region is an excellent destination for the adventurous angler. There are three lakes and a variety of fish just waiting to jump on your line.

Nearby Utah landmarks like Bryce National Park might get plenty of attention, but the trout-rich waters of this pristine lake offer an appeal all their own for avid anglers. Some of the state’s most prized fish are pulled from the lake’s waters, and ice-fishing keeps the action going strong all year long.

EAST FORK OF THE SEVIER RIVER

Hit this “secret” fishing hole on your way to or back from Bryce Canyon National Park. Situated just outside Bryce Canyon National Park is a perfect spot for the park’s adventurers to get some good fishing in.

Those people who believe southern Utah is nothing but desert and red rock will find quite the opposite is the case on Boulder Mountain. This high mountain plateau feels like the rain forest of the Pacific Northwest in some places. Countless lakes, ponds and streams can be found on the range most people cross when traveling between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks. The state record brook trout was landed on Boulder Mountain and many lakes still have trophy-size brookies. Tiger trout are another popular target for anglers seeking large fish. Native Colorado River cutthroat trout also inhabit certain lakes and streams on the Boulder. Lodging is available along Highway 12. The Boulder Mountain Lodge is a popular place to spend a night or two and even better known for an excellent menu. Developed campgrounds are scattered on Boulder and dispersed camping is also available.

Otter Creek State Park provides camping and boating amenities to anglers in the Bryce Canyon area. Otter Creek produces hefty catches of four varities of trout (rainbow, brown, cutthroat and tiger) as well as smallmouth bass.

Fish Lake is widely regarded as one of the most scenic places to drown a worm in Utah, particularly in the fall when the leafs on the vast stands of quaking aspens surrounding the lake turn gold and red. Fish Lake has traditionally been recognized as a trophy lake trout destination. The big lakers are still around, but the lake is also a popular place to fill 5-gallon buckets with tasty yellow perch. Splake and rainbow trout can also be targeted at Fish Lake. Kokanee salmon were recently introduced by state fisheries officials and should provide another opportunity for anglers in the coming years. Toothy tiger muskies have found their way in the lake from surrounding waters. Fishing is typically best with a boat at Fish Lake, but there are some places where fishing from shore can be productive. Cabins and boat rentals, among other things, can be obtained through Fish Lake Resorts.

FISHING OTTER CREEK RESERVOIR

Otter Creek State Park is a remote spot known for its great ATV trails, boating, camping, and fishing. Sitting at the southern end the Otter Creek Reservoir, of one of the best fisheries for rainbow trout in Utah, the park is very popular with anglers looking to catch large trout.

Whether you're fishing atop ice in howling winds or leisurely casting your line under the summer sun, Fish Lake is an angler’s dream come true. Not only does it offer anglers a wealth of different fish from lake trout to tiger muskie, but it’s also a beautifully scenic spot to cast your line, especially in the fall when the aspens explode into color.

FLY-FISHING BOULDER MOUNTAIN

Looking to cross some new species off your fishing bucket list? Then cast a line on Boulder Mountain. From trophy trout to tiger trout and the Arctic grayling, all are here for the catching; the beautiful scenery and cooler summer temps are added bonuses. Come to Boulder Mountain and get hooked on all it has to offer.

ROUTE MAP

EXPLORE MORE

Some other experiences to try close to your journey.

CEDAR BREAKS NATIONAL MONUMENT

The rim of Cedar Breaks is above 10,000 feet and looks into a natural amphitheater plunging 2,000 feet below, taking your eyes for a colorful ride through arches, hoodoos and canyons. Stunning views are common on these hikes so keep your camera nearby. It’s also a certified Dark Sky Park, which means the nights are like nowhere else.

The Kolob Fingers Road Scenic Byway (5 miles one way) in the northwestern corner of Zion National Park accesses the dramatic desert landscape associated with the main section of the park: towering colored cliffs, narrow winding canyons, forested plateaus and great trails, but fewer visitors.

Discover two national parks, the vast Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and the tranquil beauty of Boulder Mountain along with national forest lands and state parks unlike anywhere else. While you can complete the whole drive on one scenic three-hour tour, even a four-day itinerary only cracks the surface.

ST. GEORGE FOR KIDS

Discover the best all-ages fun in St. George, the largest city in Southern Utah. Pioneer Park offers a microcosm of the southwest with a pint-sized slot canyon experience and red rock scrambles while the Children’s Museum features several hands-on exhibits on two floors of the historic Community Art building.

On one hand, you can expect a stunning slot canyon with one of the most photographed waterfall and ladder scenes in Southern Utah. On the other hand, you’ll get to adorn good water shoes and continuously cross the creek on the way to this fun, non-technical slot canyon.

This road trip through lush mountain scenery and high sagebrush flats is highlighted by a visit to a very pretty alpine lake. There are several unpaved spur options to explore (including Thousand Lake Mountain), lodges, campgrounds and the Lakeshore National Recreation Area, home to Pando, the world’s heaviest organism.

Boulder Mountain sprawls over an expansive 50,000 acres and is the highest timbered plateau in North America. Whether you are in for hiking or rock climbing along the Great Western Trail, an ATV ride, or camping at Fish Creek Reservoir (among many lakes on the mountain), the scenery is epic.

Panguitch captures the enduring pioneer spirit of Utah with its welcoming rural charm and strong sense of heritage. Much of the town's main drag sits on the National Register of Historic Places and offers quaint, Western-themed local shopping and dining options and is close to many top destinations.